Tooth-brush.



H. T. BAXTER.

TOOTH BRUSH.

APPLICATION man MAR. 1. 1915.

1 $1 2 00 1 Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

HARRY T. BAXTER, OF NAUVOO, ILLINOIS.

TOOTH-BRUSH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9,1917.

Application filed Ma'fch 1, 1916. Serial No. 81,509.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, HARRY T. BAXTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Nauvoo, in the county of Hancock and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Tooth-Brushes, of which thefollowin is a specification.

This invention re ates to brushes and more particularly to that classthereunder known as tooth brushes.

, The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe above stated character wherein a series of brush units or heads havea pivotal connection with the back of the brush whereby upon impartingmovement to the brush during the cleansing action of the teeth, willcause an oscillatory movement of the brush heads upon the teeth beingcleansed, and greatly assist in the cleaning or polishing of the teeth.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a brush of theabove stated character wherein the back portion of the brush is formedwith a series of spaced projections arranged to opposite sides of thepoint of pivotal connection of the brush heads or units with the backand adapted to be reversely enga ed by the brush heads for effecting theosci latory movement of such brush heads.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in thenovel features, details ofconstruction and combination of parts whichwill hereinafter be more fully set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 .is a top plan view of the brush; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view;Fig. 3 is a detail view of the brush backing with the brush headsremoved therefrom; and Fig. 4 is a detail view showin the manner ofengagement of the respectlve brush heads with the projections in orderto limit the oscillatory movements of the'brush heads.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which likecharacters of reference refer to corresponding parts in the severalviews, 5 denotes a tooth brush including a handle portion 6 and a backportion 7. The top face 8 of the back portion of the brush is recessedat 9 throughout the greater longitudinal extent of the back and adjacentone of the longitudinal edges thereof, the purpose of which will behereinafter more clearly specified as the description of the inventionis proceeded with. Reposed in th1s recess 9 is a plate 10, said platebeing disposed at a point flush with the surface of the backing wherebypreventing the cuttlng of thegums during the cleansing 1 act of theteeth. Pivotally mounted on the under face 11 of the backing 7 is aplurality of longitudinally. alined brush heads 12. These brush headshave pivotal connection w ththe plate 1O through the medium of a plvotalpin 13, the pin 13 extending through the lugs 14 of the brush heads,through the thlclmess of the backing 7 and thence prevented frombecoming accidentally 1 'displaced from the plate, by upsetting one endof the pivotal pins. The brush heads are substantially of cylindricalform presenting the same wlth opposite convexed side edges 15 and 16 fora purpose which will be herelnafter more fully set forth. The bodyportion 17 of each brush head is of substantially oval configuration andis provided with a cluster of bristles 18.

Formed integrally with the under face 11 of the backing and at a pointflush with and throughout the longitudinal extent of the backing is aseries of depending spaced projections 19 and 19. These projections 19are provided with opposed concave'seats 20 and 21 respectively,diverging in a direction toward the opposite edge 22 of the backing,whereby when movement is imparted to the brush 5 during the cleansingact of the teeth, the brush heads 12, owing to their pivotal connectionwith the plate 10 to oscillate, causing the convexed portion 15 of eachof the brush heads to engage-with the concave seat 20 of the dependingprojection 19 to limit the movement of the brush head in a directiontoward the free end 23 of the backing and upon imparting a furthermovement to the brush 5, will cause the brush heads to swing in anopposite direction upon their pivotal pin 13 and bring the convexed edge16 of the brush heads into engagement with the concave seat 21 of thedepending projections 19, for limiting the movement of the brush headsin a direction toward the innermost end 24 of the backing. In otherwords the brush heads 12 are pivotally connected at a point in advanceof the projections 19 and 19 respectively and at a point substantiallymidway between the lugs in order that an equal movement of the brushheads in opposite directions will be accomplished.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the ad\"antages of construction and of the methodof operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art towhich the invention relates, and while I have described the principlesof operation of the device together with the device which I new considerto be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood thatthe device shown is merely illustrative and that such advantages may bemade when desired as are within the scope of the claims appendedthereto.

I claim:

1. In combination with a tooth brush comprising a backing, a series-ofbrush heads having opposite convexed edges pivotally connected to saidbacking, and a series of projections on said backin adapted to beengaged by the eonvexe edges of the brush heads for limiting themovement of the brush heads in opposite directions with respect to thebacking.

2. A tooth brush having a backing provided with a plurality of spacedprojections, and a series of brush heads pivotally mounted upon thebacking and adapted to alternately engage with said projection forlimiting the movement of the brush heads in opposite directions.

3. A tooth brush comprising a backing having a recess formed therein, aplate mounted in said recess, and disposed flush with one of the facesof the backing, a series of brush heads mounted on the opposite face ofthe backing and having a pivotal connection with said plate, andprojections formed integral with the latter mentioned face of thebacking adapted to be alternately engaged by the brush heads forlimiting the movements of the brush heads in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY T. BAXTER.

Witnesses:

ED. L. BIOKER, ED. AReAsT, Jr.

